Pile driving vehicle

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ), comprising a chassis ( 11 ), a movement system ( 15 ) for moving the vehicle ( 1 ) on a soil, a first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and a second driving apparatus ( 22 ). Each driving apparatus ( 21, 22 ), which is intended to drive a respective pile into the soil, comprises a first member ( 31 ) that is constrained to the chassis ( 11 ), a second member ( 32 ) that is movable relative to the first member ( 31 ) along a driving line ( 200 ) and an actuating device ( 33 ) for moving the second member ( 32 ) relative to the first member ( 31 ). The movement of the second member ( 32 ) comprising an outward stroke, during which the actuating device ( 33 ) pushes the second member ( 32 ) towards the soil, applying a force on the second member ( 32 ) along the driving line ( 200 ), and a return stroke, during which the second member ( 32 ) is moved away from the soil. The second member ( 32 ) is designed to transmit the force to the pile to be driven in. The first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) can be operated alternately, in such a way that the outward stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) corresponds to the return stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), and vice versa. This disclosure also relates to a method for driving a plurality of piles into a soil.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ), comprising:
 a chassis ( 11 ); 
 a movement system ( 15 ) for moving the vehicle ( 1 ) on a soil; 
 a first driving apparatus ( 21 ) for driving a first pile into the soil; 
 a second driving apparatus ( 22 ) for driving a second pile into the soil; 
 wherein each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) comprises a first member ( 31 ) that is constrained to the chassis ( 11 ), a second member ( 32 ) that is movable relative to the first member ( 31 ) between a first position and a second position along a driving line ( 200 ) and an actuating device ( 33 ) for moving the second member ( 32 ) relative to the first member ( 31 ), 
 wherein each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) is adapted to push a respective pile, which respectively is the first pile or the second pile, into the soil by applying a pressing force on the respective pile along the driving line ( 200 ), the actuating device ( 33 ) being a hydraulic piston or a jack, 
 wherein the pressing force has a reaction force which acts on the first member ( 31 ) and is transmitted to the chassis ( 11 ), 
 wherein the pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) has a weight and wherein the reaction force is balanced by the weight of the pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ), 
 the movement of the second member ( 32 ) comprising an outward stroke towards the second position, during which the actuating device ( 33 ) pushes the second member ( 32 ) towards the soil, applying a force on the second member ( 32 ) along the driving line ( 200 ), 
 the second member ( 32 ) being designed to transmit, to the pile to be driven in, the force along the driving line ( 200 ) which is applied by the actuating device ( 33 ), said force being the pressing force, 
 the movement of the second member ( 32 ) comprising a return stroke towards the first position, during which the second member ( 32 ) is moved away from the soil, 
 wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) are intended to be operated alternately, in such a way that the outward stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) corresponds to the return stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), and vice versa, the actuating device ( 33 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) being operated in opposite way to the actuating device ( 33 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), so that, while one actuating device ( 33 ) pushes the respective second member ( 32 ) towards the second position, the other actuating device ( 33 ) returns the respective second member ( 32 ) towards the first position. 
 
     
     
       2. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) are positioned in a central region of the chassis ( 11 ). 
     
     
       3. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the central region comprises a platform or flatbed ( 18 ) adapted to receive at least one operator ( 9 ) who, during use, manoeuvres the driving apparatuses ( 21 ,  22 ). 
     
     
       4. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising a first ballast ( 41 ) mounted in a front region of the chassis ( 11 ) and a second ballast ( 42 ) mounted in a rear region of the chassis ( 11 ), the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) being positioned in a central region of the chassis ( 11 ), the central region being interposed between the first ballast ( 41 ) and the second ballast ( 42 ). 
     
     
       5. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the central region comprises a platform or flatbed ( 18 ) adapted to receive at least one operator ( 9 ) who, during use, manoeuvres the driving apparatuses ( 21 ,  22 ). 
     
     
       6. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein for each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) the tilt angle of the driving line ( 200 ) relative to the chassis ( 11 ) is variable, the first member ( 31 ) being constrained to the chassis ( 11 ) in such a way that it can be tilted. 
     
     
       7. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) is adjustable. 
     
     
       8. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) comprises a rotation device ( 25 ) that is adapted to make the second member ( 32 ) rotate about the driving line ( 200 ), so as to make the respective pile rotate about its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       9. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) is closer to a front region of the chassis ( 11 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) is closer to a rear region of the chassis ( 11 ). 
     
     
       10. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) are positioned at a longitudinal middle axis ( 100 ) of the chassis ( 1 ). 
     
     
       11. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , such that, during use, the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is greater than the force that can be applied by the actuating device ( 33 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ), the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is greater than the force that can be applied by the actuating device ( 33 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is less than the sum of the force that can be applied by the actuating device ( 33 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the force that can be applied by the actuating device ( 33 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ). 
     
     
       12. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of pairs each formed by a first driving apparatus ( 21 ) for driving in a respective first pile and a second driving apparatus ( 22 ) for driving in a second pile, wherein the first driving apparatuses ( 21 ) can be operated alternately to the second driving apparatuses ( 22 ), in such a way that the outward stroke of the second members ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatuses ( 21 ) corresponds to the return stroke of the second members ( 32 ) of the second driving apparatuses ( 22 ), and vice versa. 
     
     
       13. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , such that, during use, the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is greater than the overall force that can be applied by the actuating devices ( 33 ) of the first driving apparatuses ( 21 ), the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is greater than the overall force that can be applied by the actuating devices ( 33 ) of the second driving apparatuses ( 22 ), the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is less than the sum of the overall force that can be applied by the actuating devices ( 33 ) of the first driving apparatuses ( 21 ) and the overall force that can be applied by the actuating devices ( 33 ) of the second driving apparatuses ( 22 ). 
     
     
       14. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement system comprises crawler tracks ( 15 ), the vehicle being a tracked vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pile-driving vehicle comprises an electronic control system which is configured to manage the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) in order to operate them alternately,
 so that, under control of the electronic control system, the outward stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) corresponds to the return stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), and vice versa. 
 
     
     
       16. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the chassis ( 11 ) has a front region, a rear region, a central region and a longitudinal middle axis ( 100 ), and
 wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) are positioned in the central region of the chassis ( 11 ) and at the longitudinal middle axis ( 100 ) of the chassis ( 11 ), 
 the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) being closer to the front region of the chassis ( 11 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) being closer to the rear region of the chassis ( 11 ). 
 
     
     
       17. The pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the central region of the chassis ( 11 ) comprises a platform or flatbed ( 18 ) adapted to receive at least one operator ( 9 ) who, during use, manoeuvres the driving apparatuses ( 21 ,  22 ). 
     
     
       18. A method for driving a plurality of piles into a soil using a vehicle ( 1 ) comprising a first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and a second driving apparatus ( 22 ), wherein each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) comprises a first member ( 31 ) that is constrained to a chassis ( 11 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ), a second member ( 32 ) that is movable relative to the first member ( 31 ) along a driving line ( 200 ) between a first position at a distance from the soil and a second position near to the soil, and an actuating device ( 33 ) for moving the second member ( 32 ) relative to the first member ( 31 ), the actuating device ( 33 ) being a hydraulic piston or a jack,
 wherein each pile is composed of a plurality of pieces that are driven in one after another until the desired overall length and depth are reached, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) positioning the vehicle ( 1 ) at a region of soil into which a first pile ( 91 ) and a second pile ( 92 ) must be driven; 
 b) bringing the second member ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) into the first position; 
 c) placing a piece ( 93 ) of the first pile ( 91 ) in the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and driving in the piece ( 93 ) of the first pile ( 91 ) by the first driving apparatus ( 21 ), the actuating device ( 33 ) pushing the second member ( 32 ) towards the second position and the second member ( 32 ) applying a pressing force on the piece ( 93 ) of the first pile ( 91 ), whilst the second member ( 32 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) is brought into the first position; 
 d) placing a piece ( 93 ) of the second pile ( 92 ) in the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) and driving in the piece ( 93 ) of the second pile ( 92 ) by the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), the actuating device ( 33 ) pushing the second member ( 32 ) towards the second position and the second member ( 32 ) applying a pressing force on the piece ( 93 ) of the second pile ( 92 ), whilst the second member ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) is returned to the first position; 
 e) repeating steps c) and d) with subsequent pieces ( 93 ) of the first pile ( 91 ) and of the second pile ( 92 ), whereby the first pile ( 91 ) and the second pile ( 92 ) are driven in a substantially simultaneous way by alternating driving of the pieces ( 93 ) of the first pile ( 91 ) with driving of the pieces ( 93 ) of the second pile ( 92 ), until driving in of the first pile ( 91 ) and of the second pile ( 92 ) is complete; 
 f) moving the vehicle ( 1 ) to a different position and repeating said steps to drive in a third pile and a fourth pile. 
 
     
     
       19. A pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ), comprising:
 a chassis ( 11 ); 
 a movement system ( 15 ) for moving the vehicle ( 1 ) on a soil; 
 a first driving apparatus ( 21 ) for driving a first pile into the soil; 
 a second driving apparatus ( 22 ) for driving a second pile into the soil; 
 wherein each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) comprises a first member ( 31 ) that is constrained to the chassis ( 11 ), a second member ( 32 ) that is movable relative to the first member ( 31 ) between a first position and a second position along a driving line ( 200 ) and an actuating device ( 33 ) for moving the second member ( 32 ) relative to the first member ( 31 ), 
 wherein each driving apparatus ( 21 ,  22 ) is adapted to push a respective pile, which respectively is the first pile or the second pile, into the soil by applying a pressing force on the respective pile along the driving line ( 200 ), the actuating device ( 33 ) being a hydraulic piston or a jack, 
 wherein the pressing force has a reaction force which acts on the first member ( 31 ) and is transmitted to the chassis ( 11 ), 
 wherein the pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ) has an overall weight and wherein, during use, the reaction force is balanced by the overall weight of the pile-driving vehicle ( 1 ), 
 the movement of the second member ( 32 ) comprising an outward stroke towards the second position, during which the actuating device ( 33 ) pushes the second member ( 32 ) towards the soil, applying a force on the second member ( 32 ) along the driving line ( 200 ), 
 the second member ( 32 ) being designed to transmit, to the pile to be driven in, the force along the driving line ( 200 ) which is applied by the actuating device ( 33 ), said force being the pressing force, 
 the movement of the second member ( 32 ) comprising a return stroke towards the first position, during which the second member ( 32 ) is moved away from the soil, 
 wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) are intended to be operated alternately, in such a way that the outward stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) corresponds to the return stroke of the second member ( 32 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), and vice versa, 
 wherein the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) has a maximum pressing force that can be applied by the actuating device ( 33 ) of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the second driving apparatus ( 22 ) has a maximum pressing force that can be applied by the actuating device ( 33 ) of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ), 
 wherein: 
 the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is greater than the maximum pressing force of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ); 
 the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is greater than the maximum pressing force of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ); 
 the overall weight of the vehicle ( 1 ) is less than the sum of the maximum pressing force of the first driving apparatus ( 21 ) and the maximum pressing force of the second driving apparatus ( 22 ).